The best tow vehicle 3/4 or 1 ton?

[Montana Man]

Originally Posted by Slow Hand

I would check the sticker on the trailer to see what it says.some folks say you cant go by the sticker on the trailer but swear the sticker on the truck is spot on. it's a sticker.

The only thing the trailer sticker says of any value is gvwr and unladen weight. Even with that the gvwr is of any concern. Without weighing both we don't really know what to do.

[Slow Hand]

Originally Posted by Montana Man

The only thing the trailer sticker says of any value is gvwr and unladen weight. Even with that the gvwr is of any concern. Without weighing both we don't really know what to do.

I never put anything in my trailer that I don't actually use. Wife tries to bring nice shoes and nice cloths and nope not going to happen. We are not going to Ruth Chris for dinner. She doesn't get to pack tones of clothes just enough for 2 weeks. That way I only have to wash clothes twice a month. i don't carry logs for a fire unless I was going camping which I don't do.

You are correct that you don't know exactly how much your trailer weighs unless you load her up and give it a go. However it does have a max load on the sticker and you can go by that. I would use the max load number to figure pin weight. Be cautious on what you put in your RV and have a good weekend at the lake.

[LERD]

Originally Posted by jetskier

I've done nearly 30k double towing (75' length) across the NV desert on I-80 last summer. My SRW did fine. Not great mileage @ 8-9mpg, but I didn't have any issues.

If I remember correctly, the SAE J2807 tests they use now for ratings wasn't implemented by Ford until the 2017 models. Hence the huge bump in tow ratings. The 2011-2016 6.7L have the same ratings even though they upgrade the turbo/injection system for more HP/TQ in 2015. They also upgraded the brake diameter in 2013, but nothing changed in the numbers. I can't imagine the frame change in 2017 was the reason.

I bet the frame change was the reason for the increased payload. I'm a Ford fan through and through. But the frame on a super duty was only a "C" channel frame until 2017. Now, it's a fully boxed frame. You can find YouTube videos of the frame flex these older trucks had when fully loaded on inclined ramps. Not pretty!

[MJShultz]

We purchased a 2020 Chevy Silverado 2500HD with 6.6 gas engine and was planning to buy a Jayco HT 5th wheel and we found our Montana HC 295RL and our sales team said you have plenty of truck. Here are the important facts:
Cat scale results

It can tow 16,600lbs the camper is 11,100. GOOD
Combined gross vehicle weight rating is 24,000lbs the scale said 19,840lbs. GOOD
Front axle weight rating is 4,800lbs the scale said
3900lbs. GOOD
Rear axle rating (RGAWR) is 6,390lbs the CAT scale says 6,520lbs. OVERWEIGHT
Gross vehicle weight (GVWR) is 10,000lbs the scale says 10,420lbs. OVERWEIGHT

Now these weights are with no passengers.
So I truly believe for any Montana a 1 ton truck is the only way.

[beeje]

Originally Posted by MJShultz

We purchased a 2020 Chevy Silverado 2500HD with 6.6 gas engine and was planning to buy a Jayco HT 5th wheel and we found our Montana HC 295RL and our sales team said you have plenty of truck. Here are the important facts:
Cat scale results

It can tow 16,600lbs the camper is 11,100. GOOD
Combined gross vehicle weight rating is 24,000lbs the scale said 19,840lbs. GOOD
Front axle weight rating is 4,800lbs the scale said
3900lbs. GOOD
Rear axle rating (RGAWR) is 6,390lbs the CAT scale says 6,520lbs. OVERWEIGHT
Gross vehicle weight (GVWR) is 10,000lbs the scale says 10,420lbs. OVERWEIGHT

Now these weights are with no passengers.
So I truly believe for any Montana a 1 ton truck is the only way.

And that camper is 11000 lb empty. Nobody goes camping with an empty trailer. You will be adding thousands of pounds of weight by the time you're done loading it.

IMHO a 3/4 ton truck has no business Towing most fifth wheels unless it is a very small light one

[mhs4771]

3/4 Ton does an excellent job on a Scamp 5th wheel

[jsb5717]

Originally Posted by MJShultz

We purchased a 2020 Chevy Silverado 2500HD with 6.6 gas engine and was planning to buy a Jayco HT 5th wheel and we found our Montana HC 295RL and our sales team said you have plenty of truck. Here are the important facts:
Cat scale results

It can tow 16,600lbs the camper is 11,100. GOOD
Combined gross vehicle weight rating is 24,000lbs the scale said 19,840lbs. GOOD
Front axle weight rating is 4,800lbs the scale said
3900lbs. GOOD
Rear axle rating (RGAWR) is 6,390lbs the CAT scale says 6,520lbs. OVERWEIGHT
Gross vehicle weight (GVWR) is 10,000lbs the scale says 10,420lbs. OVERWEIGHT

Now these weights are with no passengers.
So I truly believe for any Montana a 1 ton truck is the only way.

First, welcome aboard! Glad to have you here. I'm glad you ran the numbers and have figured out that you don't have enough truck. I'm sorry that you found out after the purchase. It's not the first time that a sales guy said "No Problem". I hope you are able to get into the 1 ton soon.

FWIW, that's a nice looking Monte. Stay safe and enjoy the journey.

[dfb]

Our salesman told us the tow rating and the GVWR .... 16k tow and 12300 gvwr... Had to get a 1 ton Dually... Found the Truck in Boise Idaho with 1200 miles... Sticker new was 77800.. We paid 61000 and they gave us FULL KELLY BLUE BOOK on our trade.. We got Real Lucky.. Payment did not go up either...

[Bob and Jeannette]

The answer always seems the same... Dually with Max tow package and transmission is the correct way to go with a full size 5th wheel.

[mazboy]

either the NEW 3/4 or one ton diesel will pull nicely.


this 6 page thread is just repeating itself.

[dfb]

We had a 1 ton srw 2017 ram.. NOT ENUFF TRUCK! Dually ... PERIOD.... BEEN THERE DONE THAT..

[dfb]

Originally Posted by mazboy

either the NEW 3/4 or one ton diesel will pull nicely.


this 6 page thread is just repeating itself.

No... not enuff .. rear axle will be over loaded!..ask me how i know..

[Bob and Jeannette]

Originally Posted by dfb

We had a 1 ton srw 2017 ram.. NOT ENUFF TRUCK! Dually ... PERIOD.... BEEN THERE DONE THAT..

Agree! Read a lot of these threads about truck specks and it always end up with Dually diesel 4x4 as the correct truck. Add 5th wheel prep and max gears and transmission to round it off.

[dfb]

Originally Posted by Bob and Jeannette

Agree! Read a lot of these threads about truck specks and it always end up with Dually diesel 4x4 as the correct truck. Add 5th wheel prep and max gears and transmission to round it off.

I have made the mistake.... Costs money to correct... Tow Rating is Nothing compared to RAWR... GVWR... Buy a 1 ton single rw truck with a gvwr of 12300.. Truck after all said and done is about 9000lbs.. Add 2900 for pin leaves nothing for hitch, fuel, and the exrtas.... We were over on ours by 300 lbs... Tow a large 5th wheel... Dually... thats it...

[beeje]

There are many who just refuse to do it .
You get tired of wasting your breath after a while. The excuses for not wanting/ needing the correct tow vehicle are endless.
It won't fit in my garage
I can't park it at the grocery store or Home Depot
Now I have to buy 6 tires
My wife won't drive it
Brake jobs are more expensive
I can't take it through a drive-thru window
I just don't like driving a dually
I don't like the looks of it
Etc,etc,etc

Bottom line is you can lead the horse to water but you cannot make him drink

[mlh]

I wonder why the SAE J2807 tow standard have a lower standard for the DRW trucks than the single wheel trucks?
Lynwood

[DadsHemi]

Best decision I ever made was getting rid of my 16 Ram 2500 Megacab 4x4 Laramie Long Horn and getting my 18 Ram MegaCab 4x4 Dually with 4:10 gears Laramie HO Diesel and Aisin. No comparison at all.

[mtlakejim]

Well this thread has gone on for 6 pages.


The original poster asked "which is the best TOW truck between a 3/4 and 1 ton. He did not ask "which tow truck is better for HIM or YOU". That being the case, I would have to say that the 1 ton wins automatically by default because it can tow more weight overall and can handle the maximum weight of a 3/4 ton more safely. But by that logic a 1.5 ton or larger would be an even better TOW truck?


Needless to say, these "which truck is best questions" are always going to spark a debate. My only real response when someone NEW to towing asks is to advise them not to tempt faith and err on the side of safety. Always make sure you have enough truck that even at the very maximum weight you will ever tow you have at least a little extra rated capacity to be safe. There really isn't a GOOD reason not too (no the "it won't fit in the garage" or I don't like duallies" arguments are NOT good reasons to not be safe)!

[Slow Hand]

I find these threads funny. All these old guys think that every 5er needs a dully Shultz never said weather the trailer was loaded or unloaded. All he said that there was no one in the truck.

Old guys crack me up.

[77cruiser]

And then somebody on the other site said, I'll never tow a trailer heavier than my tow vehicle.

I'm still looking for business Freightliner pre DEF big block with a Jake brake in my price range.